Page 25 of Regards, Mia

But I can’t do anything. I’m frozen to the spot, my body locked in the stranglehold of terror. Nausea twists my belly, and my vision clouds. A taunting voice echoes in my head.

I’m gonna give you what you want.

You’re gonna love this.

It hadn’t been what I wanted. And I hadn’t loved it.

“Not so high and mighty now, are you?” Warner’s hot, sour breath brings me back to the moment.

I scream, but the sound ricochets in my head, never making it to my mouth. My heart races, and a shiver runs through me. Ican’t breathe as Warner closes the space between us, sucking up all the air.

“Take your fucking hands off the lady right now,” a deep growl sounds from a few feet away.

It takes me a moment to recognize Jay’s voice. I’ve never heard it so low before.

Warner loosens his grip and takes a step back, but doesn’t let me go. “Relax, man. We’re just having a little chat.”

“Chat’s over.” Jay takes two long strides, and there is suddenly a human wall between Warner and me. His arm pushes me slightly behind him, and his broad back blocks my view.

Warner’s casual laugh sounds. “Sure, man. No hard feelings. We were just catching up, right Mia?”

“Get lost,” Jay says, widening his stance. Tension radiates off his body, sending a message even clearer than the deep growl in his voice.

Warner would have to be an idiot to challenge Jay. And even though he is a dirty criminal, he’s not stupid. “Good catching up with you,” Warner says in a casual tone. “I’ll see you soon.”

His footsteps fade away, and Jay turns to face me. “You okay, Mia?” His voice is softer now, gentle.

A shiver runs through me, and I drag in a breath. I smell the familiar scent of Jay. Leather and pine, he smells like the fresh outdoors. His eyes spark with anger and frustration, and he’s vibrating with the effort to suppress it.

But he’s restrained with me, patient, and kind. He doesn’t touch me, or get too close, but he watches with a protective gleam, his body coiled and ready to pounce on anyone who gets too close.

Shame surges through me. I’ve acted like a coward, showing vulnerability when I should have been tough. It’s fucking embarrassing.

“I’m okay.” My voice is a thread pulled too tightly, ready to snap. “I don’t need your help.”

A storm clouds Jay’s dark eyes. He reaches out, but lets his hand drop before touching me. “What was that about?”

I grimace, remembering how I’d frozen like a scared rabbit when I should have kicked Warner Mattson in the balls, rendering him incapable of reproduction. “Nothing.”

Jay’s eyes narrow. “Old boyfriend?”

I cringe at the thought, my skin crawling at the memory of Mattson’s touch. “No.”

“You’re shaking.” His brows pull together, eyes tight in the corners. “Let me walk you to your car.”

“I don’t…”

He cocks his head at me. “Just let me, okay?”

I sigh and stalk to my car, not looking over my shoulder as he follows and waits for me to get inside.

Resting his hand on the roof of the car, he leans down. “You okay to drive?”

I nod and look pointedly at the plastic bag in his hand. “I’m sure you have somewhere to be.”

He tucks the bag behind him. “Thatcher asked me to come over and help pack up his uncle’s office.”

An ache builds behind my eyes. “Really?”I’m going to kill Thatcher.“It was supposed to be just our book club.”

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